Website

Website about Discover's programme

About Discover children's particpation work

E-mail

Booking/Enquiries email

Telephone

General Enquiries

020 8536 5555

All information is drawn from or provided by the venues themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.

Discover is an amazing place for children and families from 0 - 11 years old to play and create stories. Focused on storytelling, children can let their imaginations run wild in the indoor Story Trail or venture outside into the Story Garden. Follow the Story Trail from the Lollipopter through to the Sparkly River, over the Trip Trap Bridge and through the caves. Dress up, make puppets and hold your own show and create your own stories with the help of the story-builders.

£5.00 for children and adults£18.00 for a family of four£4.50 concessions & Newham residents (with proof of status/address)Under 2s free

Membership available

Interactive exhibits encouraging children to develop their imagination and literacy skills whilst having fun! Exhibits include: The Magic Tower(where children can listen to stories in different languages and go down a slide), the Lollipopter (which could be a boat, plane, helicopter, submarine or spaceship), the Secret Cave, and Polka-Dot Sounds (sound beams and lights are used to create and magical mixture of sound and movement).

Collection details

Key artists and exhibits

Exhibition details are listed below, you may need to scroll down to see them all.

Exhibition (temporary)

Once There Was... The Wonderful World of Oliver Jeffers

26 November 2014 — 6 September 2015 *on now

For children 6 and under

Celebrate the 10th birthday of the classic 'How to Catch a Star' ​by exploring Oliver Jeffers' magical worlds in an exhibition bringing his fabulous picture books to life. Play in your favourite scenes from 'How to Catch a Star', 'Up and Down', 'Lost and Found' and 'The Way Back Home'. Take a trip to the seaside, row a boat, make friends with a penguin and an alien, visit the Lost and Found office and watch as stars magically appear.

Term Time: Tue - Fri 3 - 5pm (Please note that these sessions are not pre-bookable)

Weekends and school holidays: 10.20*, 11.20am, 12.20, 1.20, 2.20, 3.15 and 4.15pm *Weekdays during school holidays only

Included with admission to Discover with access to Discover's Story Trail, Story Garden, and events.

To pre-book phone 020 8536 5555 (Mon - Fri 10am - 5pm) or go online up until the evening before the event www.discover.org.uk

Discover is open:Tuesday - Friday 10am - 5pmSaturday - Sunday 11am - 5pmOpen every day during the school holidays.

Admission

Website

Events details are listed below. You may need to scroll down or click on headers to see them all. For events that don't have a specific date see the 'Resources' tab above.

Lecture, talk or reading

The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

10 April 0201 — 10 April 2015 *on now

The tiny snail wants to travel around the world so she hitches a ride on a passing whale. But what happens when the whale gets stranded on a beach?

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

The Enormous Crocodile by Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake

15 February — 20 May 2015 *on now

The Enormous Crocodile is a horrid greedy grumptious brute who loves to guzzle up little boys and girls. Join our Story Builder and the other animals as they scheme to get the better of this foul fiend, once and for all!*Please note there is no 11.30am story on the weekends.

Admission

Free with admission.

Workshop, club or activity

Muggle-Wump’s Animal Mask-Making

16 February — 20 May 2015 *on now

Make an animal mask inspired by the characters of Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake.

Admission

Free with admission.

Workshop, club or activity

Photo Fun

7 — 8 March 2015

Join our Story Builder to dress up as your favourite story character using our costumes and props and then take a photo in our digital den.

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

The Shape Game with Anthony Browne and Mini Grey

7 March 2015

Join this year’s Big Write curator, Anthony Browne, and Mini Grey for a round of The Shape Game. Watch as these two star illustrators turn each other’s shapes into a picture with your help!

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

Spacedog with Mini Grey

7 March 2015

Join Mini Grey, creator of Traction Man, and meet her very latest character, Spacedog. Spacedog’s lonely mission is nearly over, and it’s time for him to go home. But one perilous rescue attempt later, and he finds himself with an Astrocat aboard his ship. But everyone knows Spacedogs and Astrocats are sworn enemies... aren’t they? Come and create your own planet with Mini for a special space map.

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

Gorilla with Anthony Browne

7 March 2015

Hannah LOVES gorillas but her Dad is too busy to take her to the zoo. What will happen one magical night when her new toy gorilla comes to life? Join Anthony Browne for a story and lots of drawing.

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

Willy the Wimp with the Adriamus Ensemble

8 March 2015

Join the Adriamus Ensemble for this live interactive musical storytelling of Willy the Wimp with a string quartet and a saxophone! For one thrilling hour there’ll be dancing, clapping and singing as stories by author and illustrator Anthony Browne, including Willy the Wimp and My Wicked Stepmother, will be brought to life with magical musical games.

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

I am Henry Finch with Alexis Deacon

8 March 2015

Join Alexis Deacon (Beegu, Slow Loris) to meet Henry Finch, the loveable little bird who strives for greatness, gets it all a bit wrong, then makes it right again in a very surprising way. Winner of the Observer/Cape/Comica graphic short story prize 2014.

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

Frida and Bear with Anthony Browne and Hanne Bartholin

8 March 2015

Frida and Bear both LOVE to draw - but what? First, Frida draws a shape. Bear addsto it and turns it into a picture. Then Bear draws a shape for Frida as the gamebegins again. Join Anthony and Hanne and play the shape game live

Hug Me with Simona Ciraolo

Admission

Hugless Douglas by David Melling

Join our Story Builder and help Douglas find a hug that’s not too big, not too small, but just right.

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

Jack and the Flumflum Tree by Julia Donaldson and David Roberts

21 — 22 March 2015

Set sail with Jack and his crew for an exciting adventure in search of the flumflum fruit they need to cure Granny’s moozles.

Admission

Free with admission.

Workshop, club or activity

Hootah’s Story Journey

28 — 29 March 2015

Help! Discover’s Space Monster, Hootah, needs new stories to save his home planet, Squiggly Diggly. Join Hootah and our Story Builder to create a new story to send to Hootah’s home

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram

3 April 2015

Join our Story Builder for this beloved picture book classic.

Admission

Free with admission.

Workshop, club or activity

Easter Bank Holiday Weekend

3 — 6 April 2015

We’re celebrating the 20th anniversary of beloved picture book Guess How Much I Love You this Easter Bank Holiday. Don your Nutbrown Hare ears, make a new Easter basket and follow the Easter bunny’s trail to find a chocolate treat.

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

Sensory Storytime with Guess How Much I Love You

4 — 5 April 2015

Join our special guest storyteller Vanessa Wolf for this delightful version of Guess How Much I Love You.

Admission

Free with admission.

Workshop, club or activity

WILD THING!

7 April 2015

Make your own Wild Thing mask and storm up a wild rumpus with music and movement. Inspired by the classic Where the Wild Things Are.

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

7 April 2015

Put on your Wolf Suit and join Max as he sails away to the place where the Wild Things are.

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

Werewolf Club Rules with Joseph Coelho

8 April 2015

Performance poet Joe Coelho (CBeebies Rhyme Rocket) reveals the mysterious rules of the Werewolf Club, how to look like a rainbow, and how to fold up your gran!

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

Mr Gumpy’s Outing by John Burningham

9 April 2015

Mr Gumpy is happy to offer a ride in his boat to everyone he meets – but what happens when the day is spoiled by the kicking, bleating and flapping?

Admission

Free with admission.

Workshop, club or activity

Where’s Wally Story Building Adventure

11 — 12 April 2015

Get your magnifying glasses and magic postcards at the ready. Help our Story Builder create an adventure using your own imagination.

Admission

Free with admission.

Workshop, club or activity

Where’s Wally? Weekend

11 — 12 April 2015

Join us for a special Where’s Wally weekend. Search the Story Trail to find the real Wally. Add your own portrait to our huge Where’s Wally picture and join our Story Builder to create a unique adventure story – don’t forget to dress up!

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

Wild with Emily Hughes

14 April 2015

Join Emily Hughes, author and illustrator of Wild, for her illustration workshop.

Admission

Free with admission.

Workshop, club or activity

WILD THING!

18 — 19 April 2015

Make your own Wild Thing mask and storm up a wild rumpus with music and movement. Inspired by the classic Where the Wild Things Are.

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

18 — 19 April 2015

Put on your Wolf Suit and join Max as he sails away to the place where the Wild Things are.

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

Dirty Bertie with David Roberts

25 April 2015

Dirty Bertie, the world’s grubbiest trouble magnet with nosepickingly disgusting habits, is back! Meet his creator, illustrator David Roberts, in an interactive event jam-packed with Bertie chaos, lots of laughs and drawing!

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

Dirty Bertie and other favourites with David Roberts

25 — 26 April 2015

Join one of our favourite authors and illustrators and creator of Dirty Bertie, David Roberts, for some Dirty Bertie mayhem and exciting new adventures as he shares his fabulous picture books with you in these action-packed interactive events.

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

Happy Birthday Madame Chapeau with David Roberts

26 April 2015

Join illustrator David Roberts for an action packed adventure to find a new hat for Madame Chapeau’s birthday celebrations. From the creators of Rosie Revere, Engineer.

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

Shackleton’s Journey with William Grill

2 May 2015

Join the author of Shackleton’s Journey for an illustration workshop that will take you into the depths of Antarctica.

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

Penguin by Polly Dunbar

2 May 2015

Ben really wants Penguin to speak to him but nothing he does seems to make any difference. Can you help Ben talk to Penguin?

Admission

Free with admission.

Workshop, club or activity

Penguin Parade

2 — 4 May 2015

Listen to a penguin story, make a mini penguin, learn about penguins in space, dress up as a penguin and join the penguin parade. Get your waddle on.

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

Space Penguins with LA Courtenay

3 May 2015

What’s black and white, and flies faster than the speed of light? SPACE PENGUINS! Author LA Courtenay will be here to introduce you to the ice-cool crew.

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

The Journey Home by Frann Preston-Gannon

9 — 10 May 2015

Join Polar Bear, Panda, Orang-utan, Elephant and our Story Builder as they try to find a new place to call home.

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

The Flying Bath by Julia Donaldson and David Roberts

16 May 2015 From 12:30pm, From 2:30pm

17 May 2015 From 12:30pm, From 2:30pm

When everyone has left the house in the morning, the bath toys spring into action. Join the toys and our Story Builder on exciting adventures in their magical flying bath!

Admission

Website

Number Nonsense Age 6+

Join our Story Builder for 15 minutes of fun games creating mathematical mayhem in the garden.

Admission

Free with admission.

Workshop, club or activity

The Hueys in… A Day at Discover

23 — 25 May 2015

In their latest adventure The Hueys are taking over Discover! Meet these delightful characters from the imagination of Oliver Jeffers in a weekend dedicated to their own little world.

Admission

Free with admission.

Workshop, club or activity

Oliver Jeffers Week

25 — 31 May 2015

Oliver Jeffers has created many sensational stories and this May Half Term we are celebrating our favourites. With storytelling events for younger children, and themed craft activities for older siblings, we think there is something for everyone to enjoy in The Wonderful World of Oliver Jeffers.

Admission

Free with admission.

Workshop, club or activity

Kite Making Workshop

26 May 2015

Inspired by Floyd’s passion for kite flying in Stuck by Oliver Jeffers and Penguin Blue in Blown Away by Rob Biddulph, decorate and make your own kite to make fly, then try your kite in the garden afterwards (weather permitting).

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

Stuck by Oliver Jeffers

26 May 2015

Floyd’s kite is stuck in the tree! Come and listen to this story to find out all the amazing things he used to get his kite down from the tree.

Admission

Free with admission.

Workshop, club or activity

Paper Airplane Making Workshop

27 May 2015

Inspired by Oliver Jeffers’ book The Great Paper Caper, join Discover’s first Paper Airplane Making competition! Decorate your plane, learn the best way to fold it and then test it out.

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

The Great Paper Caper by Oliver Jeffers

27 May 2015

Someone is chopping branches off all the trees in the forest – but who could it be and what do they need them for? Join our Story Builder and help solve the mystery of the great paper caper!

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers

28 — 29 May 2015

Henry loves books. In fact, he loves them so much he eats them! And the more he eats, the cleverer he gets. But what will happen when he can’t eat any more?

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

Blown Away with Rob Biddulph

30 May 2015

Meet Penguin Blue! It’s a windy day, and he has a brand new kite – but where’s he going on this maiden flight? Join debut author Rob Biddulph, Penguin Blue and his friends and go on a gloriously illustrated adventure.

Admission

Free with admission.

Lecture, talk or reading

Bounce Boogie Baby Bounce

7 August — 8 March 2015

A dancer and a musician will lead you and your baby on this magical movement journey. What can baby do? Balance, bounce and boogie your way around our dazzling disco in this brand-new 20-minute session.